Tanovic will receive his prize from Androulla Vassiliou, the European commissioner responsible for education and culture, at the Cannes Film Festival on Saturday, together with co-scriptwriter Predrag Kojovic and producer Amra Baksic Camo.

The film, set in modern-day Sarajevo, examines how the city has fallen to crime and corruption in the 20 years since the end of the Yugoslav war. The plot follows two Bosnian youngsters who find themselves in a fight with the brother of the city's main mobster.

Tanovic achieved worldwide success in 2001 with his first film, No Man's Land, which was in Cannes' official competition and won the best screenplay award.

His latest film, An Episode in the Life of an Iron Picker, won the grand jury prize and the Silver Bear at the 63rd Berlin International Film Festival.